I don't think so at all. Megna is not projected as a top 6 guy necessarily. And he fits a bottom 6 role much more so than Gibbons. I think the team doesn't really know what it's doing, but if it does, the only explanation that makes sense is to give guys a cup of coffee to see what they've got at the NHL level. They saw Megna could play, so that gives them some flexibility. They saw Sill is not ready yet (after 1 game...?), and now it's Gibbons chance.

These WBS call-ups are nice to see how they do, but the issue with this team is the big guns. Sid, Malkin, Letang, and Fluery all underperform at the worst possible times. We need these guys to be clutch and they are not. Right now Letang and Malkin are just out in space. Sid seems to disappear or lose interest or hope or something every once in a while. Fleury has been pretty decent this year so far, but he needs to not get rattled in the playoffs. These guys are their own worst enemies. I'm also firmly in the fire DB clubhouse and it's only a matter of time here before he's got to go.

pens2005 wrote:A line of Bennett Crosby and Jussi would get pushed all over the ice. That would be a bad line.

Crosby needs someone like a Kunitz on his wing.

Why is it commonly believed that Sid gets pushed all over the ice? He's probably stronger along the boards than most pens players. Bennett also gets a bad rap in this department, which I can only assume is because he plays a high-skill game. Both those guys can hold their own along the boards and against a forecheck.

Penspal wrote:I'm excited to see Gibbons. Speed to burn, good hands AND maybe, if he goes in front, they won't see him.

I know nothing about the guy. When was he drafted?

undrafted... here's his bio from AHL's website:

2012-13: Played in 70 games for Penguins, totaling eight goals, 22 assists and 34 penalty minutes…Ranked third on the team in assists (22) and fourth in points (30)…Posted eight points (3g-5a) in 15 playoff games.

2011-12: Netted first three-point game as pro (1+2) @ MCH (10/29)…Had two assists @ RCH (10/13)…Notched first pro goal, shorthanded on vs. Hershey (10/8)…First time in team history that a rookie scored a shorthanded goal in the season opener.

OTHER: Completed four-year collegiate career at Boston College with 164 points (56+108) in 160 contests…Earned the John "Snooks" Kelley Memorial Award his senior season as the player who best typifies Boston College hockey…Ranked second on the team with 51 points - 18 goals and a team-high 33 assists…Led all BC players with nine shorthanded points - four goals and five assists…Member of Boston College’s NCAA Championship teams in 2008 and 2010… Led all BC players in power-play production with 21 points - five goals and 16 assists …Finished freshman season ranked first on the team with a rating of plus-32.

pens2005 wrote:A line of Bennett Crosby and Jussi would get pushed all over the ice. That would be a bad line.

Crosby needs someone like a Kunitz on his wing.

Why is it commonly believed that Sid gets pushed all over the ice? He's probably stronger along the boards than most pens players. Bennett also gets a bad rap in this department, which I can only assume is because he plays a high-skill game. Both those guys can hold their own along the boards and against a forecheck.

I'm not worried about Sid, but the other 2/3 of the line. Crosby creates space and needs space. You put two skinny minnies next to him I just feel that it spells doom.